About

I live with my talented husband, Mister Tim Connelly, our delightful son, and an adopted 100 lb. retriever “Your Bigness” who sleeps 23 hours a day.

We live and work at Stone Kiln Castle, our historic home and former Speakeasy “Tea House” in Pleasantville, NY. Humble brag and shameless plug: Stone Kiln Castle is available to rent via Airbnb whenever school is out and it’s a “Guest Favorite”.

I have also worked as a sous chef, WSET Level 2 sommelier, interior designer, video director, and actor.

I’m a USTA 3.0 tennis player. My serve sucks, but I love the outfits. After the games, there’s usually rosé.

While I am legally a Certified Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 sommelier, there are four levels before “Master,” so I’m not swirling and saying things like “just the slightest hint of wet dog collar on the finish.” I say things like, “Mmm, watermelon-y, right?!” I also do beginner tastings on occasion. Bonus: very few deaths.

Website

serenaconnelly.com
houseofsmithery.com

Interests

Culinary arts, dogs, interior design, generative AI, Martha’s Vineyard, tennis, and wine.

Can Help With

Creative and design, Portfolio reviews, Creative direction, Copywriting, Design feedback, UX/UI, Branding, Career development
Career pivots, Leadership, Freelancing, Résumé and portfolio feedback, Personal branding, Networking, Advertising agencies
In-house creative roles, Entertainment, Tech, Nonprofit, Consulting
Managing teams, Hiring, Mentoring, Building culture, Business development

Best Person to Talk to About

Why you’re not finding work by applying to jobs on LinkedIn
Building a stronger creative or professional brand
Thinking differently about career opportunities
Creative leadership and direction
Branding, experiential, and design feedback
Navigating agency, in-house, entertainment, tech, nonprofit, or consulting paths
Building culture, teams, and creative confidence

Open to Supporting

Early-career, mid-level, senior, and executive professionals. She is especially interested in supporting women and minorities.

Fun Fact

Serena says people are often surprised to learn that she is not actually an extrovert — she spends about 90% of her time at home.

Background

Serena was born in the New York metro area, raised in Colorado, and has spent the past 30+ years with family on Martha's Vineyard.